DOTC to act as mediator between PAL, pilots

MANILA, Philippines – Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus has ordered his agency’s officials to continue mediation meetings between the management of Philippine  Airlines and the pilots who left the flag-carrier, a spokesman said.

Undersecretary Dante Velasco of the Department of Transportation and Communications said that they have already gotten in touch with the pilots in active duty and even those who have already retired, to get their views on the current problem of the carrier’s pilots.

“We’re processing the information we have gathered from the pilots and after processing, we’ll present this to PAL management,” Velasco, undersecretary for public information said.

He said that the problem between the management and the pilots seems to be just a simple misunderstanding.

Velasco said that the meeting between the two camps set for yesterday did not push through due to conflict in schedules. He said that the meeting might push through today.

Other carriers to be tapped

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima disclosed yesterday that the government might tap other air carriers to service the routes affected by the cancellation of flights caused by the dispute between PAL management and 25 pilots who resigned last week.

Purisima also denied that the government plans to take over PAL operations.

He expressed optimism that the management and the pilots would be able to resolve the issue so that it does not have to lead to the reassigning of PAL routes to other carriers.

Purisima urged PAL to address the problem that led to the resignation of 25 pilots. The pilots have been complaining of unfair labor practices including what they deemed as low pay compared to the rates given by other carriers.

“We want to remind PAL of its obligations as a public utility,” Purisima noted.

Some 25 pilots did not report for work last week, forcing the cancellation of 18 PAL flights on Saturday and Sunday and four domestic flights on Monday.

PAL management said the pilots did not comply with an airline rule to give 180 days’ notice before resigning.

“The 25 pilots simply left their jobs to accept higher-paying jobs abroad in violation of their existing contracts and government regulations requiring them to give their employers at least 180 days to train replacements,” a PAL statement read.

PAL said it is talking with various government agencies like the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to avert the loss of more pilots to “poachers” abroad.

PAL also said that its other flights continue to operate normally.

“PAL’s average of 160 domestic and international flights continue to operate normally and as scheduled,” according to PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.

The carrier flies to the United States, Middle East, Australia and East Asia.

PAL continues to call on the pilots to respect their existing contracts with the company and demanded that they immediately return to work or face civil, criminal and administrative charges.

Pilots want higher pay and additional benefits

Airline Pilots Association of the Philippines (ALPAP) president Elmer Peña told airport reporters that the pilots just need job security, fair treatment and pay increase to stay with PAL.

He said that a 10 percent increase would be enough for the pilots to be convinced to stay and not look for other high-paying jobs abroad.

Peña also aired some of the pilot’s woes, such as retaining their 20 percent retirement fund and the five percent professional disability fund.

“I am not aware if this is being granted, but some pilots told me they are not getting them.”

He said that these benefits are what would keep the pilots from leaving.

He added that if PAL management would take the time to investigate and find out that this is also the practice of other airlines, then they might be convinced to adopt the same scheme.

“Sa labas naman meron retirement scheme din, one month for every year of service. If PAL would look and find out that other airlines are offering the same benefits, maybe they should also do the same,” he said.

Peña said that some pilots are conscious of these benefits, knowing that because of the nature of their job, they don’t know when the time will come that they would cease to fly due to health reasons and other disabilities.

“The pilots look forward to the health benefits as their salvation, it’s that simple.”

However, Peña added that he would not be able to stop some pilots from leaving, not because of the disparity in salary but due to job security.

He said that some pilots are fearful that they might lose their jobs or be transferred or have their salary reduced, “that would be painful for the pilot.”

Some pilots complained that they were forced to leave PAL because management will transfer them to Airphil Express, a sister company of PAL, which is a low-cost carrier that gives lower salaries. PAL management, however, denied the accusations.

Peña said ALPAP members had gone through the same experience of job insecurity and held a strike in 1998, but still they remained in the Philippines and did not work abroad.

“We have been through that before the 1998 strike, we did not leave even if the offer abroad was good,” he said, adding that fair treatment should not be withdrawn since it’s easy for pilots to find jobs elsewhere.

“My question to the PAL management is this: How come this is happening to PAL but not to Cebu Pacific?” -Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) with Iris Gonzales, Rudy Santos